Construction Project Management and Insurance Program for Taiwan High Speed Rail Project

The main purpose of the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) project is connecting the major cities of Taiwan, Taipei in the north and Kaohsiung in the south. With the total construction investment amounting to approximately US$15 billion, this project is the world’s largest build/operate/transfer (BOT) construction project (in dollar terms) and is also Taiwan’s first BOT infrastructure project. The construction of the THSR commenced in March 2000 and operations began in January 2007. The experience and lessons gained in the THSR project are useful for countries and regions lacking such expertise and still in need of such infrastructure. This paper discusses key aspects of the THSR project, including procurement strategy, the tender process, construction project management, and the Owner Controlled Insurance Program.